India, China agree on LAC clarificationNEW DELHI, Jan 15 — In a clear show of Chinese desire to impart further momentum to the ongoing process of building up of bilateral ties, the visiting Chinese leader Li Peng today emphasised with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpyaee that the common ground between the two countries "far outweighed" differences between them.

Sriganganagar
specialFamine stalks 61 villagesSRIGANGANAGAR, Jan 15 — Sixtyone villages of this district are in the grip of a famine. The delayed relief work was announced to begin today, but the state machinery can take its own time. A large part of this agriculture-dominated, comparatively prosperous Punjabi district has escaped nature’s wrath. The famine is confined to Suratgarh tehsil, the District Collector tells The
Tribune.

Quattrocchi extradition caseCBI to send official to
MalaysiaNEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The CBI has decided to send a senior official to Malaysia soon to assist its counsel in the extradition proceedings against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a key accused in the Rs 64-crore Bofors pay-off case.

Future wars to be more lethal: Army chiefNEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Chief of Army Staff Gen S. Padmanabhan today said that the stress of the Indian Army in the 21st century would be on the latest trends in warfare, state-of-the-art technology, the induction and gearing up military education to face future challenges.

A soldier, escorting India's medium-range ballistic Prithvi missile, salutes as the vehicle moves through the streets of New
Delhi on Monday during a parade to celebrate the 53rd Army Day. India's one-million-strong army is one of the world's largest standing forces.
— Reuters photo

Pak wants more coaches in
Samjhauta
ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 — Pakistan has asked India to increase the coaches of the Lahore-Amritsar Samjhauta Express from 10 to 13, saying it was necessary to accommodate the increasing traffic between the two countries.

Plea on fixing officers’ seniority dismissedNEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Supreme Court today while dismissing a writ petition against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court fixing seniority of officers in the Haryana Superior Judicial Service, cautioned the judicial officers against indulging in fanciful litigation unless pushed against the wall.

ISKCON infighting over propertyKOLKATA, Jan 15 — Brothers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), whose headquarters is here, have begun fighting against each other for control of the million dollar worth of properties of the organisation.

Hawking visits Jantar MantarNEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is holding talks with the Archaelogical Survey of India to ensure that wooden ramps constructed in the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar are not dismantled for another three weeks. The ministry is hopeful that this would enable other disabled persons gain barrier free access to the monuments.

British physicist Stephen Hawking (R), accompanied by his guide Prem Das, goes on a sight-seeing tour in New Delhi on Monday. Hawking arrived here on Sunday and will deliver the Albert Einstein Memorial Lecture, 2001, on “Predicting the Future from Astrology to Black Holes.” — Reuters
photo

Jaswant to visit Germany, S. ArabiaNEW DELHI, Jan 15 — Even as External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh is due to arrive in Riyadh on January 19 for improving bilateral ties, Saudi Arabia has not yet issued visas to an advance 15-member media team which is slated to leave India tomorrow.

5 lakh take a dip at SangamKUMBHNAGAR, Jan 15 — About 5,00,000 persons braved the cold to take the ritual bathing at the Sangam and other ghats here till the “muhurt” on Makar Sankranti today.

SC rejects Janata Party’s plea
NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by the Janata Party challenging the Election Commission’s decision to dereserve its election symbol “chakra haldhar” while derecognising it as a state party.

Bharat Shah pleads for bail
MUMBAI, Jan 15 — Noted film financier Bharat Shah, charged with alleged nexus with the underworld, today urged the Mumbai High Court to release him on bail on the ground that his remand under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act was not justified.

Shah, Rizvi claim
rights of movieMUMBAI, Jan 15 — A piquant situation today arose in the case involving Bollywood-underworld nexus with producer Nasim Rizvi and financier Bharat Shah making counter claims on seized negatives of movie “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke” and the prosecution urging appointment of court receiver to release the film and deposit the proceeds in government treasury.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — In a clear show of Chinese desire to impart further momentum to the ongoing process of building up of bilateral ties, the visiting Chinese leader Li Peng today emphasised with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpyaee that the common ground between the two countries "far outweighed" differences between them.

In their 30-minute-long "very cordial, friendly, and even relaxed" discussion Mr Vajpayee and Mr Li expressed satisfaction over the process of clarifications of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including the recent exchange of maps between the delegations of the two countries, and agreed that "the process should be completed as soon as possible".

Responding to favourable signals from Beijing, Mr Vajpayee had prepared the ground for today’s talks when he, in a statement on arrival from a two nation visit yesterday, said: "as two great civilisations and neighbours, India and China are engaged in the process of resolving, past differences and forging a new and dynamic relationship for the 21st century for the benefit of two countries and the world."

Briefing newspersons about the meeting, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said the Chairman of the National Peoples Congress of China, Mr Li Peng, said: "There were differences between the two sides but the common ground far outweighs the differences"

The Prime Minister told the visiting Chinese leader: "India and China are neighbours and we have to solve all problems in a reasonable manner to the satisfaction of both parties".

Dwelling on international affairs, Mr Li, who is the most important leader in the Chinese political hierarchy, said India and China share many ideas in the political sphere on multipolarity as well as on economic globalisation.

Mr Vajpayee said India was already a member of the WTO and China would be joining the organisation soon. "Both countries should work together in the WTO particularly on behalf of the interest of the developing countries," the Prime Minister said.

Mr Li said there were many ideas that India and China as two of the largest developing countries with significant percentage of the world population shared.

Mr Vajpayee welcomed Mr Li’s suggestion that there should be greater exchange of Parliamentary delegations between the two countries. The Prime Minister hoped that an Indian Parliamentary delegation would visit China in the near future.

Mr Li conveyed an invitation to the Prime Minister on behalf of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. Mr Vajpayee thanked him for the invitation and said he was expecting the visit of of Premier Zhu to India for which there was a standing invitation.

There are indications that Expert Group, set up in 1997 for expediting the process of clarifications on the LAC, would meet soon.

Mr Li left for Bangalore by a special Chinese aircraft where he would have interaction with the experts and captains of information technology industry. He would depart from the Karnataka capital for Beijing.

SRIGANGANAGAR, Jan 15 — Sixtyone villages of this district are in the grip of a famine. The delayed relief work was announced to begin today, but the state machinery can take its own time. A large part of this agriculture-dominated, comparatively prosperous Punjabi district has escaped nature’s wrath. The famine is confined to Suratgarh tehsil, the District Collector tells The
Tribune.

The situation is worse elsewhere. In total 1, 242 villages of Rajasthan are 75 to 100 per cent famine-hit. This is for the third consecutive year that the state has suffered a natural calamity. Twentyeight lakh people and 69 lakh head of cattle have been
affected.

Inadequate rain and improper irrigation arrangements are blamed for the famine. Kharif crop was grown in 29.75 lakh hectares. Of this crop in 15.77 lakh hectares has withered, according to officials. And officials all over are not known to tell the whole
truth.

State officials met at Bikaner last Thursday to review the situation. Chief Secretary Inderjit Khanna announced a food-for-work programme. The Centre will supply free foodgrains from its over-flowing godowns for this
scheme.

Development works will be undertaken to generate employment for the famine-hit, particularly for the 1.36 families below the poverty line, the meeting was
told.

According to Sriganganagar district officials, Rs 1.25 crore will be spent on development works. New roads will be built and existing ones repaired in the famine-struck Suratgarh tehsil. Fodder will be made available at concessional rates. Each panchayat of the affected village is expected to maintain foodgrain and fodder stocks to ensure that no human or cattle dies of starvation. The district administration, claim the officials, is fully geared to meet any eventuality.

Although officials conveniently blame nature for the calamity, the state government’s callous neglect of irrigation facilities in this area is also responsible.

Along with Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar is the granary of Rajasthan. “Yet farmers keep agitating for more irrigation water.

Due to its poor upkeep, the Gangnehar water level has reduced, leaving dry villages at the tail-end.

The Ghaggar has abundant water, but it has not been channelled. Even in a dry year, at least one lakh cusecs of unutilised water flows to Pakistan, rues a spokesman of the non-political Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. The Pilibag link canal project has been pending for the past 20 years.

And yet the farmers of the area, mostly Punjabi-speaking, have often been returning Congress MLAs to the Assembly. And it is the Congress government in the state which is respousible for their plight, at least partly.

Quattrocchi extradition caseCBI to send official to
MalaysiaTribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The CBI has decided to send a senior official to Malaysia soon to assist its counsel in the extradition proceedings against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a key accused in the Rs 64-crore Bofors pay-off case.

The case relating to the extradition proceedings of Quattrocchi is scheduled for hearing next week in a Kuala Lumpur court.

“One of our officers will be there (Kuala Lumpur) to assist our counsel (Cyrus Das) when the case comes up for hearing on January 22,” the CBI Director Mr R.K. Raghavan, told newsmen here today.

Quattrocchi was arrested by Malaysian authorities on December 20, 2000, and later released on bail on “stringent conditions”.

Quattrocchi, who represented Italian firm Snam Progetti in India for several years and was close to the Gandhi family, had left India in 1993 before the CBI could secure an arrest warrant against him from court.

The CBI Director also hoped that Hinduja brothers, accused in the case, would come to India and appear before the special court on January 19.

Regarding probe into the sources of funding by foreign agencies to the LTTE, accused of having masterminded the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the CBI Director said the agency had sent Letters Rogatory to 17 countries seeking information pertaining to that.

“We have sent Letter Rogatory to 17 countries, including Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Germany,” Mr Raghavan said when asked to comment on progress made by the Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), set up to follow up on the findings by the Jain Commission.

About the performance of the CBI during the year just gone by, Mr Raghavan said despite reference of a large number of cases and shortage of manpower, the agency had been successful in achieving 74 per cent conviction rate, besides completion of investigation in several important cases, including the securities scam and fodder scam.

The agency secured conviction in 145 cases out of 200 cases sent for trial during 2000, he said adding the figures were better compared to 1998 and 1999 when it stood at 72.2 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively.

Giving details, he said of the 34 cases relating to Indian Bank scam, charge sheets had been filed in 25 cases and had made considerable progress in the fodder scam case, in which former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is the prime accused.

About the status of the probe into the hijacking of IC-814 plane to Kandahar, the CBI Director said the agency had already issued a Red Corner notice through Interpol against the five hijackers — Ibrahim Athar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Ibrahim, Shahid Akhter Sayed and Shakir — and two of their accomplices — Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Rauf.

Mr Raghavan also informed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA was also probing into the hijacking as an American passenger was among the hostages.

The CBI Director also informed that the agency planned to set up a separate cell to probe Wildlife Act violation-related cases, which had international ramifications, besides toning up further its Anti-Cybercrime cell.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Chief of Army Staff Gen S. Padmanabhan today said that the stress of the Indian Army in the 21st century would be on the latest trends in warfare, state-of-the-art technology, the induction and gearing up military education to face future challenges.

Continuing on his vision of the Indian Army in the 21st century, the Chief of Army Staff also called upon his troops to be prepared in the future for more lethal and different wars than what they have fought till now. “The nature of conflict has changed ... Kargil was different from the 1971 war and future conflicts will be different from Kargil. Our military education has to gear itself for future wars,” he said in his address while reviewing the Army Day parade here, his first since taking over in September last year.

The Army chief said he had instructed the commanding officers at various levels to incorporate the necessary changes in the modules for military education and training of soldiers in the light of the revolution in military affairs (RMA).

Referring to the spacing of the battlefield in the era of missile warfare, he emphasised the use of information technology in hi-tech equipment and called for continuous upgradation of expertise on the part of military personnel. He said the Army was experimenting with exploiting rapid strides the country had made in the IT sector to fine tune them for battlefield deployment.

“In the coming years, stress will be on the infusion of more and more advanced technology ... A strong military is required not only to protect the country’s frontiers from external aggression, but also for internal security and disaster management,” he said.

Paying glowing tributes to the bravery of Indian soldiers as was during the Kargil conflict, General Padmanabhan said the entire establishment was committed to the welfare of the family members of those who had laid down their lives in defence of the country.

General Padmanabhan, who also gave away 28 gallantry awards on the occasion told the soldiers that they should also focus on discipline for carrying out the various tasks of the Army. “Discipline should be taken seriously by the personnel,” he said.

The smart parade, which began at the Army Parade Ground under a thick cover of fog, was also attended by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, senior officers of the three services and military attaches of foreign missions among others.

Before the parade, the three service chiefs went to Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate to pay homage to the martyrs.

The individual awards included one Yudh Seva Medal, one Bar to Sena Medal and 19 Sena Medals, nine of them posthumous. Besides COAS citations were given to 16 units.

The impressive march past by contingents, led by General-Officer Commanding (Delhi area) Major Gen Vinod Bhanot, included 61 Cavalry, Madras Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, Rajput Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry, Garhwal Rifles, Kumaon Regiment, Assam Regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Gorkha Rifles and Paras (special forces) which kept pace with the tunes of the military bands and pipes and drums drawn from various units.

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (PTI)—Pakistan has asked India to increase the coaches of the Lahore-Amritsar Samjhauta Express from 10 to 13, saying it was necessary to accommodate the increasing traffic between the two countries.

A Pakistan Railways delegation would make a formal request in this regard during its meetings with Indian officials in New Delhi tomorrow,The Nation newspaper reported today.

It would also hold a six-month review of the rail communication agreement of 1991, signed between Pakistan and India, under which the Samjhauta Express runs between the two countries, the newspaper quoting sources said.

The issue of spares for racks would also be taken up at the meeting expected to continue till January 22, they said, pointing that under the agreement both countries are bound to provide spares of ‘guest rack’ at the time of arrival in the country.

The sources said that problems related to procurement of visas for railway officials would also be discussed at the meeting, adding that at present only three members of Pakistan Railways had valid visas, while at least 12 members of their staff needed to travel to and fro.

Indian Railways' request to increase the number of goods trains would also be considered at the meeting, the sources added.

Briefing newspersons about the visit, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said the primary objective of the ten-day visit of the visiting Prime Minister of Mauritius was to seek India’s expertise in setting up of an information technology zone in Mauritius. It is for this reason that Mr Jugnauth would be going to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai, the spokesman said.

During the course of his stay from January 15 to 17 in the Capital, the visiting Prime Minister would hold talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja and Defence Minister George Fernandes would call on Mr
Jugnauth. The leader of the Opposition, Mrs Sonia Gandhi would also have a meeting with the Mauritian Prime Minister.

During the bilateral meetings, issues of bilateral, regional and international importance are expected to be discussed, the spokesman said. The President, Mr
K.R. Narayanan, would host a luncheon for the visiting dignitary and the Prime Minister would host a banquet in the honour of Mr
Jugnauth.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Supreme Court today while dismissing a writ petition against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court fixing seniority of officers in the Haryana Superior Judicial Service, cautioned the judicial officers against indulging in fanciful litigation unless pushed against the wall.

Dismissing the writ petition of Mr Ishwar Chand Jain, a member of the Haryana Superior Judicial Service challenging his placement in seniority, a three-judge Bench said, “All of us owe a duty to the public at large and one need not take the extreme recourse unless placed against a wall”.

“There might be some grievances here and there or some dissatisfaction about service conditions but that would not otherwise authorise a judicial officer to indulge in fanciful litigation”, the judges added.

The Bench comprising Mr Justice G.B. Pattanaik, Mr Justice Umesh C. Banerjee and Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde, in their judgement noted, “The petitioner herein has been in the judicial service since 1983 (if that date had to be taken note of) and a long period of 17 years has been spent more in the law courts in ventilating the personal grievances rather than redressing them.”

Delivering the judgement for the Bench, Mr Justice Banerjee observed, “Judiciary is one of the three organs of the state and owes constitutional responsibility. Responsiveness to the needs of a litigant to have the matter disposed of expeditiously cannot be decried in any way and in any event is the need of the day”.

The petitioner, after a chain of litigation earlier, by an order of this court on September 11, 1990, was directed to be confirmed in service with effect from May 2, 1985, which was complied with by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The petitioner, however, moved the Supreme Court once again under Article 32 for quashing the order or notification of the high court of December 12, 1990, regarding his placement in the seniority list. The petitioner was placed at serial No 27 in the seniority list while he claimed his serial number to be 19.

KOLKATA, Jan 15 — Brothers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), whose headquarters is here, have begun fighting against each other for control of the million dollar worth of properties of the organisation.

The organisation has its branches in the USA, UK, France and other European countries and Singapore and has thousands of devotees and followers of its founder, Swami Prabhupath, all over the world. In India, its full-fledged centres (ashrama and temple) are located in Virindaban, Bangalore, South Kolkata and Mayapur in Nadia district, which draw hundreds of devotees and pilgrims every year from various parts of the country and abroad.

All was well as long as Swami Prabhupath was alive and it was a well-run organisation. But trouble started after the death of Swami Prabhupath on July 9,1977. His disciples divided themselves into various groups and began fighting for control.

Now different branches are under the control of different groups, one group defying another.

There are allegations that ISKCON’s huge property and funds have been misappropriated and misused by vested interests. FIRs were lodged in the local police stations by one group against another. The matter also went to the court.

The allegation of hiring musclemen was also raised by one group against another and the local police was informed accordingly. Recently, Swami Jaytritha Das Adhikari was killed by assassins (identified as his disciples) inside Kolkata ashram over a power clash.

The founder-President, Swami Prabhupath, did not leave behind his second man after his death. Instead, he nominated 11 disciples — each one called Hrithik, who would enjoy all religious rights, including offering “dhikhas” to the new disciple.

As a result, each Hrithik considered himself “omnipotent” and started functioning in his own way, which annoyed the others. The Kolkata centre fell in the domain of 21-year old Swami Adidharan (who was next man to Swami Prabhupath) but his style of functioning had been challenged by Swami Jayprataka of Mayapur — the centre is an assemblage of hundreds of foreign men and women disciples.

Swami Adhiharan alleged that Swami Jayprataka had declared the Mayapur centre had been functioning against the will of Swami
Prabhupath.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is holding talks with the Archaelogical Survey of India to ensure that wooden ramps constructed in the Red Fort, Jantar Mantar, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar are not dismantled for another three weeks. The ministry is hopeful that this would enable other disabled persons gain barrier free access to the monuments.

The ramps were constructed over the weekend to provide barrier free access to world renowned wheelchair bound physicist Prof Stephan Hawking. The Institute for Physically Handicapped (IPH) today gifted a wheel-chair to Qutab Minar for the benefit of disabled visitors. It has promised another wheel-chair for children.

Due to bad weather, Professor Hawking could visit only Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory on Parliament Street.

Sitting on his specially designed wheelchair, Professor Hawking went around Jantar Mantar with great delight. He exchanged notes with disability rights activist, Javed Abidi and expressed a desire to know more about the latter’s work. Mrs Hawking’s acknowledged Mr Abidi’s perseverance in fighting for the rights of the disabled.

Mr Abidi who broke down during Professor Hawking’s visit to Jantar Mantar said: “It was a very personal moment. He has always been a role model. I sensed his delight. His smile said it all.”

Mr Abidi who is physically challenged intervened favourably to ensure barrier free access for Professor Hawking. Opposed to the idea of dismantling the ramps right away, Mr Abidi said: “They have woken up so late and if they have done a good job, they should be able to protect the ramps. It will be a tragedy if they dismantle the ramps. There is no reason why these should be a temporary structure. I will speak to the ASI and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to allow these ramps to be here.”

Mr S.B. Mathur, Additional Director General, ASI told TNS that it was too early to say whether the ramps would be dismantled or remain there. “The ramps were constructed by the IPH for a specific visit. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment made a request which has been acceded to.”

Mr A.K. Sharma, Senior Conservation Assistant was against allowing ramps. “About 10,000 visitors come to Qutab Minar everyday. How will we ensure that it is not destroyed?”

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — Even as External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh is due to arrive in Riyadh on January 19 for improving bilateral ties, Saudi Arabia has not yet issued visas to an advance 15-member media team which is slated to leave India tomorrow.

Apparently angry at the Ministry’s failure to arrange a meeting for the three-member Saudi media team, which was here last week, with either Mr Jaswant Singh or Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh, the Saudi Embassy here had not issued visas till 5.30 p.m. today to the Indian media team which was to leave New Delhi tomorrow early morning, the diplomatic sources said. The Saudi media team had come here on the invitation of the Ministry.

Notwithstanding the embarrassment being caused to the media team, Mr Jaswant Singh, who will arrive at Riyadh from Germany on January 19, would have wide ranging discussions with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Al Saud and other leaders to seek cooperation to fight the menace of cross border terrorism that posed a threat to peace and security in the South Asian region.

The Minister was scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia in October but had to postpone the visit due to flaring up of violence in the occupied areas of Israel.

Mr Jaswant Singh would have the distinction of being the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit the Country, a trip which would help him establish contact with the Saudi leadership.

The relations between the two countries have remained somewhat lukewarm for several decades due to Saudi Arabia’s soft approach towards Pakistan. The Saudi invitation to Mr Jaswant Singh, which was delivered by Ambassador Abdul Rehman Alohaly in December, is seen as shift in Riyadh’s South Asian policy.

Economic cooperation will also be high on the agenda in Riyadh. India’s annual import of crude from the country of 7.5 million tonnes is valued at around 750 million tonnes. India’s petroleum, oil and lubricant imports are worth over $ 2 billion dollars.

In addition to oil and gas exports from the country to India, considerable potential exists for enhancement of bilateral cooperation in research and development activities in India, joint ventures in the Indian refining and marketing sectors and participation of Indian companies in upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors in the country.

KUMBHNAGAR, Jan 15 (UNI, PTI) — About 5,00,000 persons braved the cold to take the ritual bathing at the Sangam and other ghats here till the “muhurt” on Makar Sankranti today.

The bathing was till 10 a m today.

The inflow of the bathers from different parts of the country continued till late night yesterday.

The Kumbh Mela area, spread over 1,396 hectares, is packed with pilgrims and sadhus. Rituals, including bhajan, kirtan and religious discourses, staging of Ramlila and Krishnalila go on.

VHP meetings from today

Meanwhile, beginning tomorrow, the Kumbh Mela area will witness hectic religio-political activities of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), culminating in the three-day Dharma Sansad on January 19.

Several heavyweights from the VHP, Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations have begun arriving at this mini-city, housing a sea of humanity, to confabulate on religious, political and economic issues, in the run-up to the Dharma Sansad, which will decide the date of start of construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and also devise an action plan for the same.

Besides the Ram Temple — which would be at the core of deliberations — issues like militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states, impact of globalisation on the Indian economy and the announcement of ceasefire by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would also come up for discussions, he said.

The week-long VHP programmes will commence with a meeting of the Central Board of Trustees on January 16-17, to be followed by the national conclave of the workers of the VHP and Bajrang Dal on January 17 and 18, Togadia said.

Naga sanyasis mesmerise

“They are the most special people and are above this planet,” said a mesmerised American tourist as she looked on at the Naga sanyasis in the royal procession of sadhus as the Sangam.

Sarah Slacker was further amazed as she learned that these naked ascetics were supposed to have won over their desires, including sex.

Inclined to yoga and tantra, she is presently in India for study and research in Hindu philosophy.

When she took a dip in the Ganga yesterday, she said she felt “some divine spirit” entering her body which for a moment freed her from all worries of the world.

Watching the multitude of pilgrims which descended on the Sangam area on Makar Sankranti, Max from Australia shouted: “It is amazing. People would have been violent if this had taken place in my country.”

Max said he had never seen such a big crowd or a royal procession in his life. He would like to see the ‘shahi snan’ of ‘manui amavasya’ and Basant Panchmi on January 24 and 29.

“Such a self-disciplined crowed would be a matter of surprise all over the world. I’ll take the memories of all three royal processions back home,” he said. He would like to propagate the concept of self-discipline and Indian philosophy in his country.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition filed by the Janata Party challenging the Election Commission’s decision to dereserve its election symbol “chakra haldhar” while derecognising it as a state party.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal dismissed the petition after hearing brief arguments from the party president Subramanian Swamy.

Mr Swamy argued that the Election Commission, under the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservations and Allotment) Order, 1968, could derecognise a party at the national or state level but it had no power to dispose of the election symbol of a derecognised party.

The petition challenged that part of commission’s September 7, 2000 order dereserving its symbol but Mr Swamy pointed out that on December 2, 2000 the commission allowed Janata Party candidates to use the original symbol for six more years.

Mr Swamy said with this order, his party’s requests before the Supreme Court had been partially met but as a general rule the commission should not have power to dereserve symbol of a derecognised party to any other candidate in an election.

The Bench said the party could approach an appropriate forum as the court was not the right forum for it.

MUMBAI, Jan 15
(PTI) — Noted film financier Bharat Shah, charged with alleged nexus with the underworld, today urged the Mumbai High Court to release him on bail on the ground that his remand under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was not justified.

Shah’s counsel Ashok Desai submitted to the court of Justice S.S. Parkar that his client was entitled to go through the remand papers without which he could not oppose it and urge for bail. He challenged the order of a lower court which refused him access to remand papers.

He argued that Shah had a right under the Constitution to engage a lawyer of his choice and see him during the remand period. This right had been taken away by the trial Judge who had noted in his order that the accused could meet his lawyer only after the investigation officer permits.

Shah has also challenged the order of the trial Judge who ruled that his bail would not be considered until the investigation was over. He argued that the investigation might take 180 days and till then the court could not prevent an accused from seeking bail.

MUMBAI, Jan 15 (PTI) — A piquant situation today arose in the case involving Bollywood-underworld nexus with producer Nasim Rizvi and financier Bharat Shah making counter claims on seized negatives of movie “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke” and the prosecution urging appointment of court receiver to release the film and deposit the proceeds in government treasury.

Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian, in her say on plea made by Shah for release of film’s negatives, informed a special court that the film producer and accused Nasim Rizvi had revealed during interrogations his right over the release of the controversial movie.

Both Shah and Rizvi are being tried under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for their alleged nexus with the underworld and had made counter claims of rights over the movie. In the circumstances, it would not be proper to release the film’s negatives to either of them, Ms Salian said.

Moreover, she said, the case of the police was that it had been financed by Karachi-based gangster Chota Shakeel and thus the film became an “incriminating material”, she said.

The prosecutor has suggested the court may give its ruling on the rights of the film after the conclusion of the trial so that no prejudice was caused to any of the accused. Till then, she said the film’s negatives should not be released to anyone.

Shah’s counsel asked for time till January 17 to file his submissions on the prosecution’s plea for appointment of court receiver. Accordingly, designated judge A.P. Bhangale has adjourned the matter until then.

Shah has pleaded in a petition that he had obtained world rights over the film in lieu of financing Rs 12.7 crore to Rizvi’s firm for making the movie. He claimed to be in possession of documents to prove his contention and offered to produce them in the court.

Meanwhile, Rizvi’s assistant and co-accused, Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh, was today remanded to judicial custody for the first time. He was arrested on December 21 and remanded to police custody.

The police has alleged that Abdul Rahim acted as a conduit between Chota Shakeel and Rizvi.

“This is not only an unfortunate incident, but also something horrible to happen. This is different from trade union militancy. But I can assure you that this is not the general situation in the state,” Mr Bhattacharya told mediapersons here.

He said the Home Secretary would not only probe the particular incident but also look into the problems of jute industry and overall management-labour relations in the state.

The Chief Minister said he had asked the Home Secretary to submit his report within 45 days.

Mr Bhattacharya said he had also asked Labour Minister Santi Ranjan Ghatak and veteran trade union leader and Minority Affairs Minister Mohammed Amin to hold an independent inquiry into the incident.

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (PTI) — An unusual spell of fog after day-break disrupted flight schedules in the Capital for nearly four hours today. Though all flight schedules were normal up to 7.30 a.m. the sudden dense fog had forced the authorities to close the airport from 8 a.m., an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said, adding that the fog reduced runway visibility range to an all-time low of 50 metres. Flight schedules returned to normal at 11.03 a.m.

NATIONAL BRIEFS

Fellowship after late
Indian astrophysicistHYDERABAD: The University of Chicago, where Nobel Laureate Subramanyam Chandrasekar worked, has decided to honour the late Indian astrophysicist by instituting a fellowship in his memory, to an incoming graduate student,beginning from the academic year 2001-2002. Chandrasekar fellows will be selected from the applicants to the PhD programmes of the Department of Physics, Astronomy
and Astrophysics. — PTI

Prasada continues to be
criticalNEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, admitted to Apollo after a ‘massive brain haemorrhage’, continues to be critical with ‘very bleak’ chances of recovery, doctors attending on him said. Mr Prasada, admitted on January 9, was on ventilator with intra-venous drips and medication. The condition of Prasada’s younger brother, Jayender Prasada, who was operated upon, was, however, ‘fine’, doctors said. —
PTI

21 IAS officers reshuffledJAIPUR:
Twentyone IAS officers have been reshuffled in the state after an order effected by the state government on Sunday night, official sources said on Monday. Mr Srimat Pandey has been appointed Secretary (second) to the Chief Minister. Mr
B. N. Sharma is now Jaipur collector. — PTI

2 kg of heroin seized, 4 heldCHENNAI:
The police seized 2 kg of quality heroin, worth over Rs 2 crore in the international market, and arrested four persons in this connection at Saidapet here on Monday. The police said the seizure was effected on a tip-off. Vekatesam was held who led the police to his other three accomplices. —
UNI

Vijayaraje Scindia’s condition
seriousNEW DELHI:
Senior BJP leader Vijayaraje Scindia, admitted to Apollo hospital, continues to be ‘very critical’ with doctors attending on her describing the chance of recovery as ‘slim’. Ms Scindia, suffering from meningitis, was admitted on January 2 and has been on a ventilator with intra-venous drips. —
PTI

Property worth 1 crdamaged in fireSIVSAGAR, (Assam): Property worth about Rs 1 crore was damaged when six shops in the Central Market here were gutted in a fire that broke out early on Monday, said the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rabi Kapoor. Mr Kapoor said seven fire engines fought for about four hours to bring the fire under control. Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire originated from a short circuit. —
UNI

6 killed as jeepfalls into gorgeDEHRA DUN:
Nine persons were killed and 19 injured in two mishaps in Garhwal Himalayas on Sunday. Six persons were killed and 19 injured when an overloaded jeep fell into a 200 metre deep gorge at Agradhar near Gadigaon on Sunday afternoon. In another accident, three persons were crushed to death by a boulder which fell off a hill in Tehri near Bhagirathi bridge. The victims were workers engaged in the Tehri dam project. —
UNI

Kite thread cutsboy’s throatAHMEDABAD:
An eight-year old, Hemanshu Ravindera, lost his life when a loose “manja’’ (sharp thread) of a kite cut his throat near the satellite area during the kite flying festivities here on Sunday evening. Police sources said the boy was riding a scooter driven by his father when a loose kite with a long thread crossed their path and cut the boy’s throat. —
UNI

Two shot dead byNLFT ultrasAGARTALA:
Two persons were shot dead by insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) at Burakha village of West Tripura district in separate incidents on Sunday, the police said on Monday. Three persons allegedly involved in the killings, have been arrested so far, the police said. —
PTI

Five charred todeathINDORE:
A father and his four sons were charred to death when the house in which they were staying caught fire near Mhow in the district on Sunday night. The five had come to attend a marriage ceremony. One person, however, managed to escape. The fire could be brought under control only after two hours. —
UNI

Song exponent hurt, 7 killed in mishap
GUWAHATI:
Popular Muslim devotional song exponent (Zikir) Rakibuddin Ahmed was critically injured and his wife and six others were killed when their vehicle collided head on with a truck near Hahchora in Golaghat district on Sunday, the police said here on Monday. Mr Ahmed was admitted to a hospital in a serious condition. The artiste and his group were to take part in a cultural function at Shakardev Kalakhetra in Guwahati. —
UNI